North Korea

China has much to gain from watching the US squirm over North Korea's nuclear antics. The Korean "Cold War" keeps US troops tied up, and allows China more leeway to threaten Taiwan. China is also deeply suspicious of US moitives in the region. Don't bet on China keeping its longtime ally on a short leash.

The US should set a timetable for the gradual withdrawal of its troops from South Korea, in order to defuse a dangerous situation in the North that could escalate into a nuclear exchange. We do have leverage with South Korea, and they should gradually be nudged into forging significant and progressivley more substantial economic ties with the North.